Council gets tough on Barrack St dereliction

CORK CITY COUNCIL will consider compulsory purchase orders of derelict premises on Barrack Street if owners do not take responsibility for improving their properties.

In response to a question from Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Martin about efforts to tackle dereliction on the street, Director of Services Pat Ledwidge said the most “severe buildings” are already on the derelict sites register.

“Discussions are underway with owners regarding removal of dereliction,” he said.

“If plans do not progress, compulsory purchase (and subsequent resale with a legal agreement requiring the removal of dereliction) will be considered.”

Mr Ledwidge also hopes to announce additional funding for works in the area in the coming weeks.

“An application for improvements and renewal works for sites in the South Main Street Area was made under the Urban Regenerations and Development Fund,” he said. “The announcements of successful applications for funding is imminent.”

The City Council has been working on renewal projects on the street for a number of years, with street and footpath renewal schemes and new lighting installed.

The area has seen a number of new businesses open in recent years and there are also plans for residential development in the area.

The long-awaited event centre in the old Beamish & Crawford brewery site nearby would also provide a huge boost to the area.

Mr Martin said at Monday’s Council meeting that it was important that the quality of work being undertaken in regeneration projects was checked to ensure quality. “We need to be on the ground and aware of what’s happening,” he said. “We need to make sure we are actually looking at the quality of work.”

He also said he hoped to see further house painting on Barrack Street next year. Eight buildings were painted under the painting grant scheme between 2017 and 2018 and Mr Ledwidge said further actions were under consideration for 2019.